Eastern Airways Saves Belfast-Southampton Route

Flights from Belfast City Airport to Southampton have been saved by Eastern Airways.

The airline stepped in to fulfil the busy route after announcing on Monday that it was creating a six-times weekly Belfast to Teeside International Airport flight.

The daily Southampton flights are now available for booking and will begin on Monday 23 March.

The airline is replacing the service after it was pulled when former operator Flybe, Belfast City Airport's largest service provider, collapsed into administration last week.

Katy Best, Commercial Director at Belfast City Airport said: "Southampton has been a popular route from Belfast for a long time, particularly with leisure passengers connecting to cruises.

"This new service to be operated by Eastern Airways will importantly reconnect Northern Ireland with the south coast of England."

The airline will also connect Southampton to Manchester and Newcastle.

Roger Hage, Eastern Airways' General Manager of Commercial & Operations, said: "Adding a Belfast City service from Southampton Airport, along with our new Manchester and Newcastle services which we started from Southampton today, following Monday's launch to Teesside, is a significant expansion with up to 70 departures a week in total. We are ensuring Southampton is reconnected to the regions throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"Initially the Belfast City route will be daily and reconnects the south coast of England to Belfast for business and leisure, while inbound passengers have the London rail connection within the hour and access to the major cruise offering via the port. By providing six destinations from Southampton, frequency and additional destinations will continue to increase."

Passengers are allocated free hold baggage at a minimum of 15kg as well as onboard refreshments.

The network of Eastern Airways, a former franchise partner of Flybe, has continued to operate as normal since the domestic travel giant entered administration.



(JG/CM)